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to overjoy

to overjoy

21 4.1
Make someone very happy
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈdʒɔɪ/
translation icon : llenar de alegría
  • The special education teacher believed the parents were overjoyed to see their children involved in "normal."
  • overjoyed to see

Examples

  • Ipa's aunt would be overjoyed to see her first grandchild and the return of her daughter.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Kylona and her friends were overjoyed to see us again.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • There are those who are overjoyed at this turn of events.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Did you see the people overjoyed at the good news?

    Academic text (1993)
  • Believe me, he'll be overjoyed.

  • Everyone is utterly overjoyed by the news.

  • His throat was dry, but he was overjoyed to be able to make words again.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I am delighted that you have returned, and overjoyed to see you so well recovered.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Ethne drives the carriage through the country lanes, overjoyed to see Harry.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I know Charles would be overjoyed to see such a collection of friends and family.

Synonyms

to excite
vsto overjoy
331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

is specifically about extreme joy rather than general emotional arousal
to thrill
vsto overjoy
201 2.1

To give a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure

means lasting extreme happiness rather than a brief sudden excitement
to exhilarate
vsto overjoy
12 6.9

To make someone feel very happy and full of energy

emphasizes pure extreme happiness rather than lively excitement
to enthuse
vsto overjoy
7 5.5

To make someone feel excited about something

conveys full extreme delight rather than milder enthusiasm
to intoxicate
vsto overjoy
4 7.0

To make someone feel very excited and happy

focuses on extreme delight rather than broad strong emotions
to gladden
vsto overjoy
1 3.5

To make someone feel happy

is stronger, showing extreme delight rather than gentle happiness
to set pulses racing
vsto overjoy
  • Informal
1 6.0

To make someone feel very excited, often suddenly

describes deep extreme happiness rather than mainly physical excitement
to beatify
vsto overjoy
7.6

To make someone very happy

expresses the same extreme delight in more common language

Antonyms

492 1.0

Fail to do what someone hoped for

How Happy

to overjoy
21 4.1
to exhilarate
12 6.9
to delight
79 2.1
to please
216 1.0

Surface Forms

overjoy infinitive
overjoying present participle
overjoys third person singular
overjoyed past
overjoyed past participle

Morphology

overjoy = joy (transparent) = over + joy

The meaning is clearly derived from 'over' + 'joy', indicating an excessive amount of joy.

Etymology

Overjoy comes from the parts over- ('too much' or 'above') and joy ('great happiness'), so imagine joy poured over someone until they are full of it. That's why to overjoy someone is to make them extremely happy.